NRC to outline findings at NC's Harris nuke plant

NRC to outline findings at NC nuke plant after shut down to fix year-old reactor problem

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) -- Federal nuclear regulators are telling the public about their special inspection of a North Carolina nuclear power plant that was forced to shut down for more than three weeks due to a quarter-inch spot of trouble near the reactor core.

The power plant is operated by Progress Energy, a unit of Duke Energy Corp.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting Thursday near the Shearon Harris nuclear plant to discuss the inspection which was begun to find out why the corrosion and cracking wasn't discovered after last year's testing. Preliminary findings of the inspection team will be discussed at the meeting. A final inspection report will be released by mid-July.

The nuclear plant about 20 miles south of Raleigh shut down May 15, started powering up again Friday, and was back to 100 percent power Sunday.